Wrestling Coach With Local Ties Hired at Iowa Lakes Community College

June 6, 2012

Cody Alesch

Iowa Lakes Director of Athletics Troy Larson announced that Cody Alesch, a Graettinger native, will be hired as the new wrestling coach/ housing director for the college, pending approval from the Board of Trustees of Iowa Lakes.

Before coming to Iowa Lakes, Alesch was a two-time state place winner (2nd, 4th) from Graettinger High School. After graduating in 1998 he took his skills to Wartburg College where he was a 3-year letter winner, Academic All-American in 2000, member of National Championship Team in 1999 and National Runner-Ups in 2000 and 2002.

After Alesch graduated with a bachelor of arts in Elementary Education he came back to his hometown where he resides with his wife, Teresa (6-12 Principal at Graettinger-Terril consolidating school district), and two children, Sacha (5) and Teague (2) to become the Head Wrestling Coach at Graettinger-Terril High School from 2006-2012. In his stint as the head coach, he had 20 state qualifiers; 14 state place winners, 2 of which who were champions; 2 National High School Coaches Association Senior Academic All-Americans; 4 Team Regional Dual Qualifiers; 2 Sectional Team Championships; and, 2 District Team Championships.

In 2007, Alesch was named the Northwest Conference Coach of the Year and had an overall Dual Team Record of 65-38.

Athletic Director Troy Larson is pleased with the experience that new Head Wrestling Coach Alesch brings to Iowa Lakes.

“Coach Alesch brings an outstanding competitive background to the sport having wrestled at a high level in high school and at Wartburg,” Larson said.

There is much anticipation for success as Coach Alesch begins his first season.

“Having been a successful high school coach at Graettinger with all the local connections makes him a great fit for the position” he said. “He is passionate about young adults and the sport of wrestling which will serve him well. I am confident he will do an outstanding job at Iowa Lakes.”

Alesch also has high expectations coming into his new role.

“I am extremely excited at the opportunity to be a part of Iowa Lakes and the surrounding communities as this is where my love for the sport began,” he said. “The Iowa Lakes wrestling program has a great foundation already in place. “

His goal is to bring “everything I can to ensure the program stays successful for a long time.”

Alesch searches for well-rounded recruits.

“I look forward to living a personal dream of guiding student-athletes on and off the mat in a sport and community that I respect and care so much about,” he said.

Along with his leadership duties as the Head Wrestling Coach, he will assume the position of housing coordinator, with duties ranging from promoting healthy lifestyles and enforcing housing policies, to meeting with students to solve issues when necessary.